ashers_ashes (ashers_ashes) wrote in reprisys, @ 2021-07-07 00:16:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | autumn, roman |
pretty women
who: roman & autumn
setting: kitchen
Roman was unamused. Sure the prison was nicer, but it was just another prison. He’d walked the whole perimeter, but there was no way out of it. The windows were sealed and it was like one giant circle rather than having an entrance on one end. It felt more like a circle of hell than anything else. It was how he wound up in the kitchen opening cabinets to see what there was there available beyond the general food items.
Autumn was walking slowly around the place, familiarizing herself. She’d not emerged from her room immediately upon waking, having taken her time stretching, and taking a long, long bath. God, she’d missed baths. There was nothing quite as self care important as soaking in a tub with some bubble bath. Even if the tub wasn’t huge, it was still a tub so she was happy. She’d done herself up nicely, as per usual, then drifted around. Sound caught her attention and she peeked into the room, spotting a truly beautiful specimen of the human race. “Hello,” she greeted with a smile and a little wave.
Roman looked up when he was addressed and at the gorgeous woman behind the voice. He instantly didn’t trust her. Gorgeous women were dangerous and sure, in another life, he might have not thought that, pulled out the charm, but this was a post-Magnolia Roman. He lacked trust in anyone and especially knew that women like the one in front of him were pretty much the definition of trouble for him. “Hello. Need something?” he asked, shutting the cabinet he was looking in and focusing on her.
She smiled easily at him. “Not specifically, mostly I was just looking around. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this place, but I hadn’t pictured anything quite this…” she paused in thought, then quirked a little half smile. “Budget courtyard hotel?” she suggested. “I like it.”
He considered that for a moment then leaned back, resting against one of the counters. “I’m on the fence. Still feels like a prison,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “And coed, which feels like a trap if there ever was one.”
"Why does it still feel like prison to you?" She asked curiously, walking farther into the room. She looked through some cabinets, finding some little snacks type foods inside. Nothing she wanted to eat, so she kept moving, looking back at him from time to time. She wondered what he was in for, if it was violent or not. She hoped not.
“Because there's no door and no way out,” he said, watching her move, but not moving so that she didn’t spook. Though if she was here, she might be just as dangerous as she was gorgeous.
"I get that, but for me, there are no guards, I got to bathe alone, no one is telling me what I can and can't do, no one is threatening to 'cut my pretty face' in the yard, there are rather beautiful men around…" she said, turning a smile back at him. "I know I can't leave, but this is nothing like my prison experience. I'm pretty happy about that. The world is imperfect, I'm counting lucky stars that I get to be somewhere I get my own close-able room, and clothing."
That her prison time was as bad as it sounded bothered him, but beyond a small twitch of his face, he didn’t give into it. He’d fallen into that before he wasn’t about to do it again. “It all feels temporary. And forgive me if seeing a beautiful face doesn’t give me concerns. Because you are, but so was the woman who got me arrested.”
She watched him and smiled, shaking her head a little, arms crossing across her stomach. “Well, handsome, everything in life is temporary, so you can’t hold that against it. Kingdoms fall, monuments break, the world is the least permanent thing. That’s not always a bad thing,” she pointed out. “And I’m sorry a pretty face got you arrested, but that’s got nothing to do with aesthetics, it’s got to do with who you spent your time with, the person. Just because I’m pretty doesn’t mean I’d automatically be a terrible person. Kind of short sighted to judge someone on that. Pretty sure it’s the same level of bullshit that judging someone on their skin tone is,” she pointed out gently. Because damn that was ridiculous. “Surround yourself with people you trust, who are worthy of that trust, don’t just wander around judging books by their covers.”
“I wish that was the case,” he said about kingdoms falling. “Only the good ones fall. The vile and corrupt stay up longer than you or I.” He huffed a noise. “It’s more than just that you’re gorgeous,” he said. “You’re also here, which makes me wonder.” He shrugged. “I did. And they lied. Then I tried again, and they lied too. I’m sticking to myself at this point. If you’ll forgive me.”
She laughed a little at that. “You have me there,” she agreed at more than a few things there. “But, okay, if you’re worried about me, then ask. Though, fair warning, I don’t actually know what it is I did? I just know that I was in bed with apparently the wrong people, and those people got nervous and now I’m here. But I never hurt anyone, and have spent my adult life trying to make people’s dreams come true,” she shared. She looked at him at that last part, with true pity. “...well of course you’re forgiven, hon. It’s just heartbreakingly sad.”
“I figure we’re here for similar reasons then,” he said, head tilting just slightly, because he was curious. The urge to know the answer to the puzzle died hard. “Let me guess then, pillow talk gone wrong?” he suggested. He knew that, actually, considering. Lia had similar issues. “Is it? How so?”
“Ah, you piss off someone high enough up to sweep you under the rug too?” she asked. “And..I don’t know? I wasn’t lying when I said I don’t know what I did. I know that I was a companion for a lot of powerful people, in different walks of life. I guess espionage is on my list of charges, but...I never stole anything from anyone, didn’t have anyone’s secrets tucked away. I think people just think I did. And I never talked about anyone behind their backs, either.” She shrugged one delicate shoulder. “It’s heartbreaking to see someone so young, handsome, and intelligent just give up on humanity like that. And companionship. Because you can’t really be happy being with anyone if you don’t trust them, and sounds to me like you’re going very scorched earth with it all. Painting everyone with the same brush. So, it’s sad. I never like seeing that.” And her voice conveyed that she’d most definitely seen it before.
“I suppose I did,” Roman said, but he did take in her story. “Espionage is hard to prove, but it’s scary enough to sway a jury,” he said, clearly sympathetic. He’d seen it. “I’m not sure I’m that young any more. I don’t feel young.” He shook his head. “I think I’m past the point of having that kind of relationship,” he said. “No need to worry about me. I’ll manage.”
"You are young," she said, smiling at him. "But I understand feeling exhausted." She looked surprised. "Just uninterested? Or jaded? And easier said than done. I worry. I am a person who is geared towards it by nature. But I won't be obnoxious, I promise."
Heartbroken was more like it, but Roman was not about to admit to being interested in Lia. No, not then, not ever. She was more trouble than anything else. But she did things to him, drove him to protect her, to make stupid decisions when it she was part of the situation. “Jaded,” he said after a moment. “And not worth the worry.”
"Pretty sure I get to make my own choices on that," she said, giving him a little wink. "So, do you not do friends either? Just you alone, lone wolfing it?" She was curious, how deep the jaded thing went. How bad the trust issues were.
He let out a breath and shrugged. “The friends I thought I had turned on me, and who acted like my friends weren’t decent people. I’m not sure I trust myself to make a good judgement call when it comes to people.” Maybe lone wolf was right, but it sounded like it had a purpose and Roman’s life was a fucking joke.
She nodded. "I'm sorry this happened to you," she told him truthfully. "Sounds hard, and lonely, and I'm sure you've convinced yourself that it's all for the best, but it's just going to keep the damage alive. So, I'm going to try to be your friend. And we'll see what happens from there."
He arched a brow at her, then shook his head. “If you really need something to do to kill time, fine, try away. I can tell you it won’t work, but you seem keen on lost causes.”
"I've cracked harder nuts," she said with a smile. "They said pretty much the same thing. Anyway, I'll get out of your hair. It's been nice meeting you, Roman." She gave a little wave.
He waved back before he caught himself, grumbling to himself that he'd done that at all. Pretty women. They were the worst.